🤔 This was a reread for a bookclub. Feeling rather milk toast about it. I‘m sure it was fresh & bold in 1959, but it fell flat for me today. I grasped the tensions/clashes created by the protagonist‘s narcissism within his communities and the cultural pressures brought to bear by colonization via missionaries. But it felt disjointed when suddenly in the last quarter the focus shifted to the latter theme. The pacing was off.

Another installment in the Cash Blackbear series with a pair of disturbing evildoers. I really liked the introduction of a tribal elder who gently nudges Cash to mature into her cultural heritage and the natural gifts she‘s been deprived of by the foster care system.

Sadly, a new narrator that presents Cash in a rather flat, monotone way.

I got lucky today! Brand new for $7.

In true ATK and Milk Street fashion, this isn‘t a compendium of boring basic bland veggie recipes, rather they embrace flavorful global flavors.👌🏾 Seasonal example is Mashed Butternut Squash with Cumin & Chili. Ohhhh, I just flipped to Habanero-Onion Soup with Lime. 😋

My daughter will not give her seal of approval on this book. 🤷🏽‍♀️

A late #FridayHappyReadingHour 😁

It‘s homecoming night so I have to stay up waiting for a call to pick up 5 girls to bring home here after the dance. My son is a senior and I am just now realizing next year I won‘t be on call as MomUber since my daughter will be driving. I don‘t know whether to be happy or sad.

Following the example of @ImperfectCJ I‘m posting this pic to inspire feelings of peace & contentment.

I need it.

Well, this is not a forgettable series, especially this second installment. Cash, because of her age, the region she lives in, and the era, doesn‘t understand the concept of sex trafficking. Until she encounters it first hand.

Very effective & vivid writing. Obvious TW.

P.S. What is with publishers and all the “girl” titles?

This cookbook is terrific for the detailed instructions, which includes details in a snapshot, even a sample schedule. 😁

Made my first sourdough crust last night and it was superb, although it was from King Arthur, not the tagged book. I still have pizza on the brain this morning. 🍕https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/sourdough-discard-pizza-crust-recipe

The narrator is fantastic! Very plot driven writing, but for my taste not subtle enough to suspend my disbelief and stay fully engaged. Revolves around salacious romantic relationship drama, the type that sets community tongues wagging, which again if more nuanced perhaps I‘d appreciate it more.

So-So rating because I didn‘t bail.

#SoapOpera

Another fantastic book club meetup today. My husband has said for many years now this is the funniest book he‘s ever read. I finally got to it via bookclub and I have to agree, the absurd satire is hilarious. I have so many tabs marking something quite funny. But underneath the humor is scathing insightful social commentary, worthy of the best satires. It also has bits that appear to be autobiographical.

Well done Toole! 👏🏾

Scored both of these translated books I was looking for today. Feeling lucky!

Cash, a young Anishinabe woman, is a complicated person with a complicated past & present. Though there is a murder mystery to solve, the story involves far more than that alone. I‘m going to continue on with the series. Rendon has set it up to really grow the characters she has introduced.

Oh, this was an absolutely fun psychological suspense to read! For anyone in the Celia Fremlin fan club, this has serious Fremlin vibes. @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen

A “lodger”, who is both a menace and a deluded idiot, is haunted by his own obsession. 😬

#FridayHappyReadingHour (outdoor edition) got rained out so Cricket & I looking for a zucchini bread/muffin recipe.

(Per daughter‘s request because the sugar cancels the zucchini as a vegetable. Chocolate chips will make it a bonafide dessert.)

The end was a thrill; I woke up last night and had to listen thru the climax. I appreciated the structure in that it‘s not linear and the backstory slowly reveals itself. That‘s always the best way to build suspense & interest. 😄

#FridayHappyReadingHour is happening inside the camper because it‘s 50 something and I‘m too tired (lazy) to get wood and build a fire. It‘s still happy! 😊

I see the English translation is expected to release June 2026. 😅😅😅

This should be squarely in my wheelhouse and I expected to love it. But, not so much. Some of the writing felt forced & contrived. It‘s also not particularly memorable. I finished listening a couple of weeks ago and recall little about it. Of course I‘m willing to admit that might be my fault because a lot competes for my attention this time of year.

👏🏾👏🏾😅😅 Latest post. But I also don‘t hold my breath on anything anymore.

For those who know this title. 😊 My daughter replaced the original mug that broke because she knew I loved it. Mo Willems is for her what Dr. Seuss was for me as a first reader.

My late Rooibus Tea Happy Hour Reading of 13 Steps Down. Thoroughly enjoying it!

This is the second LFL I‘ve seen in a campground this summer. What a good idea! Too bad there hasn‘t been anything in them for me. 😜

Sunday morning perusal inside because it‘s too stinking cold already to be sitting out comfortably.

I am proud to write despite the fact I would really like to buy two of these books, I‘m going to resist! 💪🏾

"TWELVE INCHES (12") OF PARADISE." ????

Ignatius‘ placard on his Paradise Hotdogs cart and he can‘t figure out why the old ladies are aghast. Clueless! Such a complete pompous fop! He wonders why they aren‘t selling.

Though I‘ve had to start prepping classes and have one of those 🤬 meetings tomorrow, I refuse to be defeated out of my summer vibe. People are complaining about the heat & humidity at my house. I am not one of them bc I know what‘s coming.

Hubby brought back a thoughtful gift from Beacon Hill Books. 😍🥰 He also told me about the floor to ceiling Persephone collection. I guessed it was Persephone bc he described them as “you know those grey cover books you like”……

He managed to finally find himself a copy of Notes from the Underground. I bet we looked in a dozen bookshops this summer. It‘s one of those books you see all the time until you want it.

Time to start thinking about some seasonal fermented vinegars & veggies. I love fire ciders. 🥵🔥

#fridayhappyreadinghour Trying to foil Mother Nature by moving to the front, but that only lasted so long. 😜 Rain is one thing, wind is another.

Sarah Brown from Zenith Bookstore in Duluth, MN wasn‘t kidding about this cover! I immediately borrowed the Kindle edition from the library. 😵

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/08/15/best-beach-reads-from-minnesota-booksel...

I acknowledge this is a cilantro novel and unabashedly declare I am in the 🖤 camp. It‘s time for a reread and I am savoring every delicious gothic moment during bedtime reading.

It‘s happy reading hour with a Wisconsin beer in the Wisconsin woods, with Dostoevsky in a screen tent. There must be a relevant connection within the 900 pages.

I have the necessary choice of bug spray or a screen tent. Today it‘s the tent. 🦟🦟

I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the origins of mute psychiatric patient William, but the love life woes of art therapist Helen, who is helping solve the puzzle, were a distraction.

Not a chance in hell camping or women owned & brewed beer would meet with I.R.‘s exacting geometrical & theological standards. 😏

This novella is a heartache that reads like a fever dream. The ghosts are haunting. (Pun intended.)

I read this in all but a single sitting. I had to know about Hetty!

Hetty is a woman of mystery. Is she friend or foe? 👀

#PersephoneClub

I had to look up the village of Lytton & the Thompson River. I didn‘t know it had been decimated by a wildfire in 2021. 😒 Rebuilding very slowly.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mayor-lytton-return-home-1.75193...

#PersephoneClub

Why do I suspect Iggy could have used a good pedicure?

A bit ridiculous that it‘s cool enough for a quilt on 8/1, but so is the idea Ignatius wears a winter getup in New Orleans.

Only on chapter 2, but I‘ve laughed out loud and snorted multiple times. I finally understand why my husband found this novel so funny.

Friday Happy Reading Hour is here again. 😁 @mcctrish @Aims42

#FridayHappyReadingHour

P.S. The haze in the background is smoke from Canadian wild fires. It‘s been particularly bad & persistent this summer.

These short stories tell the natural history of Henrietta, a lepidopterist, and her family. As with most short story collections some stories were more engaging than others. It‘s a bit sprawling, which in the end made it difficult to track the characters.

I won‘t soon forget Henrietta‘s young niece Caroline attempting to unzip her infant sister in order to let out the future playmate sooner, as if she were a moth chrysalis. 😳

🙇🏾‍♀️🙇🏾‍♀️ Now I have to wait until November (18th???) for volumes 3 & 4! Poop.

Cliff hanger.

🤣🔦 Truth

New to me author, thanks to @Billypar ! B&N didn‘t have the two you recommended, but the blurb for this one is intriguing. 😄

And it‘s an Indie Publisher 👏🏾👏🏾

Ummmmm maybe I‘m over protective or American culture is different, but I would not let my 5-6 year old son go with a woman I just met that day to a toy shop while I worked on a laptop in a cafe. 😐

On the other hand, my husband let some Ethiopian women unknown to him take our 3 month old baby into a bathroom in the Addis Ababa airport to change his diaper. First time dad - overwhelmed. 🤭

Soft pick. The MC repeatedly chastising the reader/listener during an account of her involvement with the family who employed her as a housekeeper & nanny got annoying and cheesy. Not a suspense thriller or mystery either.

Joining @mcctrish & @Aims42 for Friday Happy Reading Hour. 😊

Ohhhhh the dramaaaaaaaaaaa. 😅🙃 I feel like I need a fan and some fainting salts after this chapter.

Fremlin is a delight as always! It‘s really surprising she isn‘t more widely read. She deserves a renaissance!

This one is a perfect mystery for summer reading. I didn‘t see the twist coming and character development hooks you from the beginning. The second husband?! 😳 That‘s what makes Fremlin special - keen observation of human nature, especially our fears & foibles.

My go-to activities don‘t change much on vacation. 😁 Book acquisitions happened at Beartooth Books, a very charming shop and terrific addition to Red Lodge, MT.

I have an appointment with Fremlin in this spot for reading while husband & son fish this afternoon. I‘m in my favorite place in the world. 😊😌 Our backyard for three short days.

Federal lands should not be sold (as proposed) and hence locked up by the ultra wealthy. Little people like us would never have access to it or if so, only for a hefty price.

I‘m reading outside and I won‘t regret it in February. 😁 However, we did skip trail rides today.

I‘m feeling a good read coming on!